I was really looking forward to reading Longing for Home by Sarah M. Eden, as it is only the second book published in Shadow Mountain's new Proper Romance category. The first, of course, is Edenbrooke, by Julianne Donaldson, which, to put it mildly, I love. So, without further ado...
Katie, a resilient, stubborn Irish woman haunted by the potato famine of 1845 has a debt to pay (though the debt itself is supposed to be a secret, so my lips are sealed - or should I say my fingers are?) and moves to the desert of Wyoming to build a future for herself.
And you better believe there are a couple of charming western/Irish gentlemen she meets on the way. Now I have your curiosity piqued, don't I?
I had a couple of issues with this novel, though. The story just wasn't quite believable enough for me. Besides her past, Katie didn't struggle much if at all with her new life, hindering her overall development and making it harder to connect with her.
Then there was the ending. For chapter upon chapter I was waiting and waiting and waiting for the climax to happen and then...
...there's a sequel. Yup. Normally I love sequels, but this was a pretty long novel, folks, and when the climax promises to come not now but later... well, I was a trifle disappointed.
However, I know many people have enjoyed this story. I believe on the back of the book Julianne Donaldson herself described the novel as "heartwarming," which is true. It's a nice, comfortable story, though in many respects it just didn't work for me. But perhaps you'd like to give it a shot.
Appropriate for ages 18+ (though it's clean enough for younger ages, I think the story itself would appeal more to an older audience)
